2013 Secondary Depth

Welp, our secondary as a unit this year is just bad. With more teams moving toward the spread, it puts more emphasis on Bud's nickel package. Unfortunately, we don't have 5 horses to run in space, as they've miserably failed the test through 6 games. Even worse, we still have to play Clemson, FSU, Miami, and Duke. Each of those teams can legitmately score 40 points on the Hokies if they can expose our FS and nickleback.

With that, let's talk 2013. Will we be any better? Here's my guess at some semblance of a 2013 depth chart...

CB: Kyle Fuller, Donovan Riley, Donaldven Manning, Charles Clark
CB: Kendall Fuller (physically, I think he's ready), Derwoune Greene, Brandon Facyson
Rover: Antone Exum, Holland Fisher, Anthony Shegog
FS: Kyshoen Jarrett, Detrick Bonner

After this year, I can see why we recruited so many defensive backs. Transfers / busts have hurt our depth and our starting unit. James Farrow and Boye Aromire would undoubtedly be seeing significant playing time, if not starting.

All that said, our secondary should be improved next year. We'll be a year older in some spots, and we'll have more raw talent at others. Detrick Bonner, Donaldven Manning, and Michael Cole do not have job security. Hopefully they respond positively in the offseason and get better. I'm excited about Donovan Riley - he reminds me of Kyle Fuller. If he continues to improve I can see him stepping up at nickelback a la Kyle in 2011.

Kendall Fuller and Holland Fisher are physically ready to contribute. Here's to hoping they can pick up the playbook quickly.